A huge thank you to everyone involved in todays conference, well worth sacraficing one of the few fine days we have had so far this year.

After a
marvellous tour of the Steppes around the World and some of the most desirable plants that grow there by Bob and Rannveig, we learned how to propagate and hybridise mini Narcs and Drops.

Anne Wright took us step by step through sowing and growing seeds, as well as pollinating and hybridising some of the cutest wee Narcs I have ever seen. To add to that, there was footage of twin scaling and chipping giving us all the practical know how needed to multiply our bulb collections tenfold. Yippee!

Another trip took us on the Tulip circut of Kazakhstan where our leader, Kurt Vickery teased us with some amazing scenery and the most gorgeous tulips, that I will be studying closly in my new book Diane Everett's 'Tulipa'. That's Kazakhstan on the list then.

Finally when I thought it couldn't get any better, Ian Young enthused greatly on how beneficial it is to collect and grow the seeds from your bulbs and how letting your bulbs run wild through the garden works. Important information was also imparted from Ian on the best practice on cultivating some of our most popular bulbs. Today's lesson was 'sand beds'.

As well as learning so many useful tips, tricks and important details, I am now so inspired by today's lectures that I am just raring to go with new projects and the challenge of growing some incredible plants.

So nice to hear about that Ross - does anyone have any pictures? I am looking forward to the Frit. Group meeting with Jānis Rukšāns, especially after Maggi's comments on the SRGC Forum. His book 'Buried Treasures' which sort of reminds me of a few other bulb growers (!) is a fantastic read. Hope one day we might be able to tempt gardeners down to far flung Kent - some thoughts are gestating.